Bidding-box.



J. E. & L. C. HOOD.

BIDDING BOX. APPLIoATmN Hum AUG.zz,'19oe.

908,263. Patented 1m29, 190s.

2 SHEETS-.SHEET l.

J. E. & L. G. HOOD.

BIDDINGBOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 190B.

1H: Nmzms PETERs col. WASHINGTON, D. c.

JOHN E. HOOD AND-LOUIE O. HOOD, OF SPARTA, ILLINOIS.

BIDDING-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

Application filed August 22, 1908. Serial No. 449,816.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that we, J oHN E. Hoon and Louis C. Hooi), citizens of theUnited tates, residing at .Spar-ta, in the county of yItandolph andState of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements inBidding-Boxes, of which the following is a specincation, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention provides a receptacle having receiving-compartmentstherein with a separate opening leading to every one, the compartmentsbeing arranged to receive bidding cards, tickets, blanks, or the like,bearing designations corresponding to the different designations of therespective openings to the compartments. The bidding-box of thisinvention for this purpose includes an outer casing forming the boxproper, wherein are contained a number of separate compartments,openings to the compartments being formed in the front of the box.Included within the box is also a larger compartment at the top forstorage purposes. The compartments are formed by divisional partitions,and are closed at the back by a removable tray-like member, which may beeasily lifted out to alford access to the compartments at the back. Thetray is covered and held in place by the back of the box, which ishinged and provided with fastening means which are arranged tofacilitate opening and closing of the box.

The box is more particularly designed for the reception of bids in asystem of selling goods in which articles are bid for somewhat in thesame manner as at a verbal auction sale, except that the bidding periodusually extends over a longer time, and the bids, instead of beingannounced vocally, are written upon cards, tickets, blanks, or the like,bearing designations corresponding to those of the articles upon whichbids are made, the respective compartments of the box being intended toreceive bids with articleindicating designations corresponding to thedesignations of the openings to the compartments.

Vhen read in connection with the description herein, the details ofconstruction and arrangements of parts contemplated by this inventionwill be apparent from the accom-A panying drawings, forming part hereof,wherein an embodiment of the invention 1s disclosed, for purposes ofillustration.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the severalviews of the drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a front View of the box;Fig. 2 is an interior view thereof, looking from back to front; Fig. 3is a perspective View, the box being open and the tray being partiallyremoved from its closed position; and Fig. et is a transverse sectionalview.

The box comprises a tray-like portion 5, having a ange 6 extending fromits edge 7, and a lid or closure 8 hinged thereto, the lid forming therear side of the box and having a rim 9 arranged to normally abutagainst edge 7 and to envelop flange 6, whereby a comparatively tightjoint is formed between the tray-like portion and the lid when the boxis closed. Any suitable fastening means 1() are provided to keep the boxnormally closed.

Disposed within the tray-like portion and extending from end to endthereof are regularly-arranged partitions 1l, and extending from the topone of these partitions to the bottom of the box are upright ortransverse partitions 12, the partitions engaging the front side of thetray-like portion and extending to or nearly to edge 7, thereby forminga comparatively large compartment 13 at the top and a plurality ofsmaller compartments 14 of similar characteristics regularly arrangedthroughout the remaining interior of the tray-like portion.

To close the compartments at the back, a removable tray or cover 15 isarranged to seat against the back edges of the partitions, and this trayis formed with a rim 16 sufticiently wide to be engaged by lid 8 whenthe box is closed, whereby the tray is held firmly in place to close thecompartments.

In the front face of the box are formed a plurality of openings 17, oneleading to and being disposed near the top of every one of the smallercompartments 14 of the box. These openings are designed by a series ofdifferentiating characters, such as l, 2, 3, etc.

vWhen in use for bidding purposes, the box is closed and locked and setup in a place of convenient access to the front side having theopenings. The articles to be bid on bear designations corresponding tothose of the openings and to those of bidding tickets, blanks, or thelike, furnished for use therewith. The bid on any particular article ismade on a ticket, blank, or the like, bearing the same designation asthe article, and it is then inserted into the box through an openingbearing the same designation. At any time during the bidding period, orat the end thereof, the box is opened, and the bids Will be found sortedin the several compartments, all bids on different articles being incompartments Whose openings bear designations corresponding to thedesignations of the respective articles. It will thus be seen that itWill be unnecessary to sort the bids on the respective articles, butthat those on every article will be found together and the highest bidcan be readily ascertained.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A bidding-box having a closure on one side and comprising partitionsdividing the interior thereof into compartments open on the closure sideof the box, there being openings to the compartments on the side of thebox opposite to the closure, and a member arranged to close the sides ofthe compartments opposite to the openings and to be held in closedposition by said closure.

2. A bidding-box having a plurality of compartments therein Withopenings on one 3 side leading thereto, and comprising a y hinged sideopposite to that With the openings, and a member arranged to normallyclose the compartments opposite to the openings thereto and having aflange arranged 3-` In testimony whereof We affix our signaii tures inpresence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN E. HOOD. LOUIE O. HOOD.

Vitnesses:

vWILLIAM E. RICKMAN, FRANK LINDSAY.

